Rick Walker Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 Well, we are approaching the end of another year. Soon, the snow will be piling up and 2005 will come tearing through. At the end of every year, I like to kick back and think about what the new year will bring. Part of this is thinking about the stars of the new year-who will rise to the top of the grip barell? With that, here is my list for 2005: #5. Tommy Heslep: the silent assassin, who shocked us all as he parted the sea of people at GGC and said, "Hey, I still have 3 pinch attempts!" while everyone else was done. I, for one, was awe struck. Tommy not only has massive pinch power, but he is getting his inch lifting up to par, has an incredible pinch, is starting to bend again, and is bulking up body wise. I think we are just starting to see the scary stuff from Mr. Heslep. 2005 will be interesting, as will the contests he competes in. #4. Eli Thomas: Young, hungry kid who has the best mentors in the business. I am anxious to watch this phenom rise in the ranks for not only grip, but also strongman. Red bender, MM2 closer, plays with the blob, etc. Eli will be a force, and with the backing of the Diesel Crew, he will learn what winning is all about. #3. Big Steve McGranhan: The man who gets his power from the Lord! Big Steve is, IMO, the best all around grip guy on the planet right now. The things I have witnessed are almost unbelieveable. The steel I have seen bent-sickening. Big Steve will close a #4, he dominates all types of pinching-I saw him attempt a clean of 3-25s and he almost had them turned over! Scary shit! His thick bar speaks for itself. Not only that-but the Big Man has taken a liking to clean and press lifts and is turning himself into a monster! Big Steve will shine in 2005. #2. Robby Vigeant: Robby is a quiet man on the board, but to those who have met him in person-he is a character! He is strong as hell, and right now-the only man to have closed the MM3 gripper. If Robby trains hard in 2005-he will remain untouchable. If he slacks in his training-the other young bucks with burning desire just might pass him by. Bottom line: a healthy, training Robby V. WILL NOT get beat in 2005! I look for big things! I had to hink long and hard about my number #1 pick. Who, in my mind, has the skill, genetics, desire, and heart to rise to the top-and start taking titles from Robby V.? It was a toss up-and I know I left some people out-but here is my #1 pick: #1. Jedd Johnson: I cannot say enough about this guy. He never seems to run out of steam. He never seems to slow down. From his grip, to his strongman, Jedd is just someone who you expect to take it up a notch and do the impossible. The guy toys with 360 pound atlas stones, he has an incredible pinch and thick bar. His crush is out of site: he will get MM3 or higher in 2005. He can bend reds, etc. Limitless. Every week this guy gives us something new to watch. I truly think if Robby doesnt train his ass off, Jedd will take over the drivers seat as the man to beat. He lives his life like a champion-and trains in the den of champions with guys like Eli, Smitty, and Mark. For all these reasons and more-Jedd is my pick for #1 in 2005. So there you have it. My 2005 top #5 list. I know I left out some heavy hitters, but all around grip guys-I dont think there are any better. 1 I left out who I think will shine in 2005 is Clay Edgin. I still love ya brother-but, my list is my list. No hard feelings-you will be top 3 in any contest you enter! Rick Walker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danegarreau Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 Good call on all of those guys Rick. I agree completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ishred Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 nice picks rick..... btw...can you pm me with the lottery numbers for next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Van Weele Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 Jedd is really coming along. I can't beleive how much thicker and heavier he is compared to when I first saw him in MN. He just keeps getting bigger and stronger and at an alarming rate. What is this guys secret? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king crusher Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 rick is your nose brown or is it the lighting. jk man lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooinabc1 Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 They would more closers for the #4. Wannagrip invents far out grip program the Help crush the #4 with help of follow gripbroads by post and using 10 people to try the new impovered KTA program. New KTA program bring new gripperest to speed by closing the #4. The red nail is replaced by the xxx red. monster mash #4 is closed by many gripperester and MM#5is closed by one person. The frist conest for closing the #3 and #4 has a cash award for $5000 and $10000 by the America motorcycle maker. Joe kinney closes the bb galaxy. Young people qiut drugs because of the gripbroad and gripping. Gripping saves marriages science proves it. gripping help lost weight. gripping is better then Vigra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotenmyoou Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 2005......I will officially close #4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannyboy Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 They would more closers for the #4.Wannagrip invents far out grip program the Help crush the #4 with help of follow gripbroads by post and using 10 people to try the new impovered KTA program. New KTA program bring new gripperest to speed by closing the #4. The red nail is replaced by the xxx red. monster mash #4 is closed by many gripperester and MM#5is closed by one person. The frist conest for closing the #3 and #4 has a cash award for $5000 and $10000 by the America motorcycle maker. Joe kinney closes the bb galaxy. Young people qiut drugs because of the gripbroad and gripping. Gripping saves marriages science proves it. gripping help lost weight. gripping is better then Vigra. ← hahahahaha well said my friend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybersnott Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 #4. Eli Thomas: Young, hungry kid who has the best mentors in the business. I am anxious to watch this phenom rise in the ranks for not only grip, but also strongman. Red bender, MM2 closer, plays with the blob, etc. Eli will be a force, and with the backing of the Diesel Crew, he will learn what winning is all about. ← You should of put Eli much higher on your list, Rick. The kid has some talent!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chris Vaughn Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 Rick, I have one question for you: what about you? I seem to recall that until recently, people would’ve been making these types of predictions about you. In the past two years or so, you said you would be totaling elite in Pling (only to stop, get rid of your gear, and now bash geared lifters), claimed you would cheat curl/become stronger pound-for-pound than Kaz, that you would close a #4, enter and win a 5 km race, become a doctoral candidate in Exercise Science, become a pro Strongman, etc. You wrote articles about “seeing the black” and such, but now you seem to be doing crossfit workouts and not much else. I’m not trying to be insulting here, but you seemed to have such great potential and drive to do these things. What happened? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerbjr Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 (edited) How can you leave out Clay Edgin, dude is a total all around stud....Can grip and pinch with anyone out there and may be the best bender out there as he is only one I know of getting 5/16 grade 5's.....Brett Edited November 22, 2004 by kerbjr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meat Loaf Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 (edited) How can you leave out Clay Edgin, dude is a total all around stud....Can grip and pinch with anyone out there and may be the best bender out there as he is only one I know of getting 5/16 grade 5's.....Brett ← Kerbjr, Clay just broke up with Rick....he's pretty bitter. You can understand. MEAT Edited November 22, 2004 by Meat Loaf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom of Iowa2 Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 How can you leave out Clay Edgin, dude is a total all around stud....Can grip and pinch with anyone out there and may be the best bender out there as he is only one I know of getting 5/16 grade 5's.....Brett ← I'd have to squeeze Clay in there at number 1 or 2 also? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eli72 Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 some how this feels like the year 2000 on Conan Obrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amaury Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 Ahhh that 5/16" grade 5 bend! I can't wait to see it (NO irony here) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Edgin Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 Good list Rick, I agree with all the picks, although I don't know how much grip stuff Rob W is doing now that he is more involved in armwrestling. Thanks for the compliments guys, but I'm not even on my own top 5 list! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsquat Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 We will continue to see amazing stuff from Pat Povilaitis in 2005. For my money, he is an impressive drug-free strongman at under 200 pounds bodyweight. Who can equal him bending and lifting stones at that light bodyweight? And it doesn't matter how much he can squat, bench, or deadlift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suterp Posted November 23, 2004 Share Posted November 23, 2004 Good list Rick, I agree with all the picks, although I don't know how much grip stuff Rob W is doing now that he is more involved in armwrestling. ← Man, with his mind boggling grip plus arm strength (e.g. one arm weighted chins) he is going to be an arm wrestling freak. He and David Horne both will represent the grip community well I'm sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonL Posted November 24, 2004 Share Posted November 24, 2004 We will continue to see amazing stuff from Pat Povilaitis in 2005. For my money, he is an impressive drug-free strongman at under 200 pounds bodyweight. Who can equal him bending and lifting stones at that light bodyweight? And it doesn't matter how much he can squat, bench, or deadlift. I completley agree. Pat is just awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybersnott Posted November 25, 2004 Share Posted November 25, 2004 For my money, he is an impressive drug-free strongman at under 200 pounds bodyweight. Who can equal him bending and lifting stones at that light bodyweight? ← The only guy I can think of right now is Dennis Rogers (if Dennis does any stonelifting?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Lipinski Posted November 25, 2004 Share Posted November 25, 2004 Clay is the grip stud. He's only really just starting his training. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handgripperman Posted November 25, 2004 Share Posted November 25, 2004 I agree with Bob. Clay is on my top 5 list.Clay is a monster when it comes to grip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bencrush Posted November 28, 2004 Share Posted November 28, 2004 I hope to see a woman close the #3. With either a parallel or credit card set. Couple more #4 closers. Maybe a no set SE close... 400 V-Bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Van Weele Posted November 28, 2004 Share Posted November 28, 2004 I'm willing to bet the no set SE has been done already and maybe a no set on a #4. Only time will tell if the man comes forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bencrush Posted November 28, 2004 Share Posted November 28, 2004 I'm aware that the no set Elite has been done...I'd LOVE to see a no set SE or #4! Wicked strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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